Review: Yeti Tundra 125

Summary:

The Yeti Tundra 125 has the ability to keep perishable items cold for far longer than the average cooler and is designed to last a lifetime, making it an excellent purchase for all hardcore weekend warriors, hunters, and fishermen.

Yeti coolers are, perhaps, the most coveted coolers on the market by avid outdoor enthusiasts. When you have one, EVERYONE notices and drools just a little. Why? Because, simply put, they’re a solid investment for any camper, hunter, or weekend warrior who wants a high-performance cooler that’s in it for the long haul.

Functionality★★★★★This Yeti’s main function is to keep food, drinks, and other perishable items cold. Very cold. For a very long time. This is what the Yeti Tundra 125 does best. Depending on the weather and where the cooler is being stored, this baby can hold a 10 pound bag of ice with little melting for 5 days plus! Case in point: While road-tripping through the Tetons of Wyoming, all the way up to Glacier National Park in Montana, my outdoor peeps and I were able to use only 2 bags of ice for a 14 day trip. That’s unreal.

What’s more, the “bear proof” nature of this cooler means that you can safely take it into bear territory while still storing all kinds of smelly delights, including fish! Though some die-hard bear canister folks may claim that the Yeti isn’t quite as effective, I’ve found it to be very effective on adventures when all food is properly sealed in plastic bags or tinfoil inside. That’s no small thing since I live in Colorado where black bears are about as common as deer.

Design and Aesthetics ★★★★Yeti’s “no sweat” design claims to keep the cooler from sweating and this is certainly a claim the cooler lives up to. Even after two weeks of summer road-tripping, camping, and paddleboarding, this cooler was still dry as the desert on the outside. This feature is a must for those who intend to put the cooler in their car or tent, since any kind of moisture is unwanted when it comes to upholstery or gear.

Made from military grade nylon rope, the Double Haul ™ handles are essential since the Yeti tends to be on the heavy side. The handles have a cushiony feel, so they won’t hurt your hands while carrying.

The Barefoot™ Non-Slip feet make this cooler the perfect companion on slippery boat decks, paddle boards, and ATV trailers. I hauled this baby, strapped down with no more than a cable, up mountainous Monarch pass of Colorado on the back of an open truck trailer alongside 4-wheelers and it didn’t budge.

Durability ★★★★★Known for their durability, Yeti uses (Get ready for some big, fancy words) nigh-invulnerable roto-molded polyethylene and insulates its coolers with 2-3 inches of pressure-injected polyurethane. What does this mean to the lay consumer? The walls of this beefy cooler are think, impenetrable, and unbreakable. Bang it on rocks, drop it down a canyon wall (I have, literally), or throw it in the bed of your truck. It’ll even stand up to a bear’s teeth and claws.

This particular cooler’s “bear proof” claim has been put to the test several times in the mountains of Colorado and, perhaps even more impressively, in Montana where Grizzlies abound.

Value ★★★★True. Yetis aren’t cheap. This one’s price tag rounds out just under $550. But look at it this way, it’s literally the only cooler of its size you will ever need to buy…for the rest of your life. Not to mention, the versatility of these things is unreal. Whether it’s for camping, road-tripping, stand-up paddle boarding, or packing meat after a hunt, these things keep perishable items fresher longer than literally any other cooler on the market. For avid adventurers, that makes the Yeti worth its weight in gold.

Own a piece of gear that you're dying to review? Read our submissions page and let's get it up on the interwebz!